Adonia cruise Part 5 - Civitavecchia

Wednesday 9 May 2012

We were up early for our arrival in Civitavecchia to see the other ships arriving or in port – Minerva, Norwegian Epic and Ruby Princess were already in and Sovereign arrived just after us. It is the first time I had seen Epic in the flesh as it were and what a truly hideous ship she is in my opinion.

Caryll and I took the Rome on your Own tour, leaving the ship at 9am and getting back at 6pm. It was VERY hot in Rome and we walked far more than I had planned, which was not good for my knees not to mention sunburn!  We were really lucky though as we were dropped off at the bottom of St Peter’s Square just as the Pope was blessing the crowd and touring round the audience in an open top car. He then returned to the steps of St Peter’s and a service continued. Although I am not RC, it was a moving moment and one I never expected to see. After that we crossed the Caste; Sant’Angelo bridge and headed up the Corso Vittorio Emanuel II to the Forum and Colosseum – a joint ticket cost 12 euros. Then we headed back towards the Piazza Navona and Pantheon, although we lost our sense of direction and ended up at the Trevi Fountain!!

As we had to be back at the meeting point at 4.15, we picked up a pizza and ate it in Pizza Navona, rather than find a café, before going to the Castel Sant’ Angelo. Caryll stayed to go inside the castel while I went back to St Peter’s Square, tripping on one of the many pavement hazards that litter European streets and only just saving myself from falling down. There is very little shade in Rome and with the hot sun beating down we are both a little scorched again! It was lovely to be welcomed back on board by Zak, the Executive Purser (who sent a bottle a bottle of wine to our cabin).  Sailaway was at 7pm, but ships' sirens are no longer allowed to be sounded in port any more. Minerva sailed just before us so we were able to have a good view and wave of course.